Betty Jean Coker

Betty Jean "BJ" Coker, age 85, a long time resident of Belen, passed away August 28, 2020 at Bear Canyon Rehab in Albuquerque. She was born November 12, 1934, in Amarillo, Texas to Aubrey E and Mattie May (Meador) Hanks.

BJ worked many jobs in Texas, Nebraska, and New Mexico. She was most proud of working for JB Hunt as a husband-wife long-haul truck driver team. They delivered goods all over the country and visited family along the way. In Belen she worked at the Belen Country Club as a server and later as a dispatcher for Valley Cab. Her retired years revolved around her children, siblings, nieces and nephews, and her beloved dogs, Dolly, Patty, and Julie. BJ was the last living child of her parents' ten children. She was treasured and loved as mother, sister, sister-in-law, and aunt.

BJ was predeceased by husband, John Coker; her parents; siblings, Earl, Fred, Laverne, Glen, Helen, Grace, Glenna, Paul, and Billy; sons, David and Kenny Pinnick, and Ricky Gammon; niece, Recie Hornyak; and nephews, Jerry Warren, Mark and Danny Anderson. Survivors include sons, Bill Mitchell (Pat) and Michael Pinnick (Vernie); daughter, Anna George Gammon; sisters-in-law, Joyce Hanks and Ruth Hanks; nieces and nephews, Lola Ball, Cecile Firth, Bobby Warren (Kate), Kelder Anderson, Sue Garley (Ed), CW Warren, Sandy Latter (Jerry), Jimmy and Chuck Hanks, Gail Harvey Schmidt (John), Russell Anderson (Sally), Henry Anderson (Doris), Jeannine Anderson, Scott Hanks, Anniece Yates (Steve), and Randy and Christopher Beebe.

Services will be officiated by Brother Boyd Morerod for BJ and her two sons, David and Kenny Pinnick, Saturday, September 12, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Los Chaves, 9 Los Chavez Park Rd. Belen, NM 87002. A reception will follow at the church.

Special thanks to Darla Felix and her family for their care of BJ that allowed her to live at home longer. Special thanks, also, to Compassus Hospice, in particular, to Eric Anderson.